When I was asked to review Little Pim the foreign language learning program for kids, I was absolutely thrilled! I am a homeschooling mom and live in Canada, where French is taught as a second language – virtually everyone you meet can speak at least basic French. Additionally, as an adult I have come to realize the importance of bilingualism as we all become global citizens with thanks to technology in it’s many forms.

Little Pim is available in a wide variety of languages including but not limited to French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian and Arabic. Although I grew up in a semi-trilingual environment, (both Albanian and Italian were spoken around me regularly), it was a no-brainer for me to select French, living in Canada. As a “Romance Language” it is so similar to other languages that really, they would be more likely to pick up others once they mastered it.

Our package arrived!

When my Little Pim package arrive my boys immediately flocked to me to have a look at the contents. Included is Little Pim himself,  a CD case, and a set of three DVD’s – which I was asked to put on the TV by the inquisitive kids peeking over my shoulder.

The concept behind Little Pim is complete immersion – there are no introductions in English, everything was in French. My children were a bit perplexed, but I found them immediately drawn in and enjoying watching the DVD’s. Award-winning filmmaker/creator of Little Pim, Julia Pimsleur Levine is a mom herself, and created the series when she found there was a gap in the market for a “top-quality, language-learning video series for the very young”.

Research proves that children under the age of five are at a prime age for learning languages, and Little Pim makes this much easier than I thought it could be! My children are obsessed with the videos and count Pim as a favourite character like many other loved characters. They surprise me with their knowledge from listening and interacting and I can’t wait to add another language to their list as they continue to learn French. What a great product – and equally great gift.

WIN IT: Little Pim is offering our readers the chance to win one of their Complete Gift Sets in your choice of language (11 choices available)

TO ENTER: Is your child bilingual? Have you ever considered teaching your child another language? Let us know in a comment below!

For extra entries (not mandatory), you can pick any of the following options below.  Each one will count as 1 additional entry!

• “Tweet” this contest by clicking on the retweet button above.
• Become a fan of Child Mode on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Little Pim on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow Little Pim on Twitter

Are you planning on taking advantage of the Boxing Day/Week sales this week? If so, you are going to want to check out the new ShopCatch app. This free app is a huge time and money saver and I gave it whirl last week during a last minute shopping haul in the city.

ShopCatch describes itself as “a mobile destination for location-based listings of promotions, sales and exclusive offerings at top retailers and malls near each user.” It was created by the parent company of the Toronto Star newspaper, Tor Star as a way for users to save while shopping in their local town or city.

ShopCatch is not only available in cities across Canada, but they also provide exclusive mobile coupons that you can use by just showing your phone to the teller. I was interested to see how the app fared and after a week of testing I am happy to report that I was able to receive deal updates on some of my favourite shops close to me by following some of the companies that I shop at frequently such as the Gap, Old Navy, Canadian Tire, Bulk Barn, Indigo Books, Michaels, Sears, The Children’s Place and Rona. Those are just the ones I followed, but there are many more.

So how does the app work? Well, it is geotagged so once opened, the app will locate where you are and start updating your deal feed with personalized results under the tab “Deals Near Me”.  There is also an option to follow companies as I mentioned above. Think of it, as your own specialized deal service that is literally at your finger tips.

Last week, while looking for some last minute gifts, I was able to consult the app without wading through the shops. Not only did this save me money, but it saved me a couple of hours in driving and wait times (last minute shopping in the city is madness to say the least).

I had no plans of going out Boxing Day shopping, however after looking at the app this morning I noticed that the Gap is offering up to 60% off their entire store, Indigo Books has 30% off hardcovers, Old Navy has apparel, shoes and accessories up to 75% off this week and Mark’s Work Warehouse is offering 50% off yellow ticket. Hello deals!

If you have an iPhone or Android, I recommend checking out the app and testing it out for yourself. It’s free and I can guarantee it will save you a bundle!

*This is a sponsored post, courtesy of ShopCatch. I was provided with a stipend to spend during the testing of this app. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.*

GIVEAWAY: To help get the word out on their new app, ShopCatch is offering our readers the chance to win a $25 Visa gift card (Canadians only)!

TO ENTER: Are you hitting up the shops this week for the deals? Do you consult the sales before you go or do you just “wing it”? Leave a comment below letting us know!

For extra entries (not mandatory), you can pick any of the following options below.  Each one will count as 1 additional entry!

• “Tweet” this contest by clicking on the retweet button above.
• Become a fan of Child Mode on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter

Remember that fabulous baby monitor we told you about a couple of months back? You know, the one that allows you to listen and watch your child even if you are halfway across the planet? Well, they are hosting an incredible giveaway for new parents, and frankly I’m a little jealous because the prizes are amazing.

In case you missed our last post about the monitor, EVOZ is a revolutionary baby monitor that is ideal for techie parents. Not only does it sync up with any Apple device (laptop, iPad, iPhone, iTouch), it also allows you to check on your baby with one of those devices, regardless of where you are. You don’t have to worry about the monitor’s reception as your receptor is your current OS device.

It also collections information on your child’s sleep cycles and crying patterns, which could come in handy – especially if you are trying to get them on a routine/schedules.

EVOZ is giving away a special gift pack that includes one of their monitors as well as a $75 gift certificate to Ecomom, an online shopping destination that carries all the eco-friendly toys, health products, gear and other must-haves.

WIN IT: To enter the giveaway, head over to EVOZ Facebook page Never Enough Time and leave a comment on their wall or join in the conversation. I am a regular moderator and we have all sorts of fun convos throughout the day!

For an additional entry, share the contest on your own Facebook wall. 

The contest will run for two weeks and ends on December 30th. Remember, the more you share, the higher your chances of winning!

Want to pick up one of these monitors as a last minute gift and can’t wait for the giveaway to end? Use coupon code Evozchildmode to receive 25% off any EVOZ products!

The tradition of mailing holiday cards is one that I have followed ever since I was a little girl. In the world of e-mail and e-cards this is one tradtion I refuse to give up to the e-Gods!

Grace Announcements is a company that I have known about for quite some time. Messages and tweets on Twitter from happy customers raving about the designs and beautiful cards from this company are forever filling my Twitter stream. Because of this, I was thrilled when she offered for me to make my very own set.

Regardless of whether you follow Christmas, Hanukah or just like celebrating the New Year, Grace Announcements has a card design suitable for anyone. Another perk – if the saying or wording on the card is not exactly how you like, she can alter it. She can even put a completely customized card design together for you, if you aren’t fond of the ones on her site. It didn’t take me long to choose our greeting card, we ended up going with the “Laughing All The Way” Design. With the large picture box and 3 small ones on the side, it was the perfect fit for our newly expanded family of 5.

After placing my order, I was taken to a page to upload my preferred photos. Literally a couple of hours later, Lindsay emailed me with a proof of the card. After a couple of tweaks to the greeting, we were done! Easy and completely painless.

Amazingly enough I received the cards just shy of 1 week later and am happy to say they have since all been addressed and mailed. Fastest turnaround ever!

WIN IT! Grace Announcements is offering our readers a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to go towards any order on their site.

How to Enter:

Head on over to Grace Announcements and let us know what your favourite card is (birthday, birth announcement, holiday, any card) by leaving a comment with a valid email address below. For extra entries, you can pick any of the following options below.  Each one will count as 1 additional entry!

• “Tweet” this contest by clicking on the retweet button above.
• Become a fan of Child Mode on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter
• ‘Like’ Grace Announcements on Facebook
• Follow Grace Announcements on Twitter
• Mention this giveaway on your blog or website

It is a well known fact that I’m a huge fan of Tiny Tag Designs and have been for the last 4 years. This mom-owned company produces the sweetest personalized necklaces and jewelry. Recently, they added a new metal to their all silver line-up, and are now offering necklaces and bracelets in a gold-filled option.

What is gold filled you ask? 14k gold filled is the process of pressure bonding 14k gold to a base metal core. When something is 14k gold filled it will not chip or tarnish (unlike gold plated). Gold filled wears, looks and lasts like solid 14k gold because everything you see and feel is pure 14k gold.

If you are looking for a necklace you can dress up or down, this gold filled version from Tiny Tags is your best bet and an amazing gift idea for that special someone. Each initial is hand stamped using Tiny Tag’s curly or typewriter font (as shown above). It hangs from a 14k gold filled diamond cut chain or 14k ball chain.

WIN IT!: Tiny Tag is offering our readers the chance to win a 2 Tag Gold Filled Tiny Tag Necklace (value $130).

Can’t wait for the giveaway to end? Use promo code childmode2011 to receive 20% off your order (last date to order is December 11).

How to Enter:

Head on over to Tiny Tag Designs and let us know what your favourite piece is by leaving a comment with a valid email address below. For extra entries, you can pick any of the following options below.  Each one will count as 1 additional entry!

• “Tweet” this contest by clicking on the retweet button above.
• Become a fan of Child Mode on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Tiny Tags Designs on Facebook
• Mention this giveaway on your blog or website

If you are anything like me you know how hard it is to find the perfect crib bedding. When I was pregnant with my first daughter I literally gave up because I couldn’t find anything that I liked. I dressed our crib up with a single sheet – that’s it. Yes, I’m a tad fussy .

Luckily there is now a solution for fuss butt parents like myself. Carousel Designs not only has beautiful bedding, they have the coolest tool that allows you to customize your own set, right down to the ties. I had an opportunity to test out the program and.. well, check out the review and see how it went .

Highlights of Nursery Designer® and Carousel Designs Custom Baby Bedding Collection include:

• A new feature that allows customers to visualize nursery wall and trim colors onlineusing actual Benjamin Moore® paint colours.
• No more guesswork in matching and coordinating baby bedding. The simple design process allows anyone to begin designing their own baby bedding. If a customer has fallen in love with one particular fabric, they can start there.
• Through the company’s baby registry, friends and family can view a loved one’sbedding designs to share input or to purchase items as gifts.
• Carousel Designs offers a selection of more than 300+ high quality fabrics.
• The company offers quick turnaround times with orders fulfilled in days, not weeks.
• Incredible pricing starting as low as $79 for the bumper, skirt, and comforter; and as low as $19 for a custom sheet.
• Fabric swatches can be ordered for 50 cents each, with the cost fully refunded when theorder is placed.
• In addition to bedding they offer other items to complete your nursery’s look: rocking pad covers, window treatments, wall art and more!

WIN IT! The amazing folks at Carousel Designs are offering our readers the chance to win their very own customized crib bedding set!

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below telling us what you like in baby bedding. Do you like elephants and giraffes, plain and simple, does it have to be organic? We want to know!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the Twitter link at the top of this post
• Follow Carousel Designs on Twitter
• Follow Child Mode on Twitter
• ‘Like’ Carousel Designs on Facebook
• ‘Like’ Child Mode on Facebook
• Subscribe to our Feed.

*Be sure to leave comments below informing us of your extra entries.

This giveaway ends Wednesday December 7th at 11:59 p.m. A winner will then be picked at random and announced on our Facebook page.

Congratulations to Nicole Thoresen, the winner of our giveaway!

I’ve always loved Petunia Picklebottom and have coveted their beautiful silk bags for years. Those adorable rolls and other styles came in so many beautiful silk prints it was hard to choose. Fast forward 6 years later and the company is even better than ever!

For fall, they have come out with some beautiful new prints for their classic Boxy Backpacks as well as their other line which has since extended to everything from diaper clutches to cell phone cases. There are also many new and revamped accessories to choose from this year – The Haven nursing cover, Adorn iPhone cover, Wanderlust Wallet, Faraway Fold Out Tote, Travel Train Case, Powder Room Case, Tags, Totes and More.

Petunia Pickle Bottom has even teamed up with Ergo (my favourite carrier company) releasing 3 organic prints - Heavenly Holland, Peaceful Portofino and Evening in Innsbruck (I’ve been wearing this one everywhere!).
The Change It Up Clutch (pictured above) is a handy bag that  can be worn over the shoulder or wristlet style. The fabric is glazed so you don’t have to worry about it getting dirty – just wipe clean. The clutch is a perfect solution for those who don’t wish to tote a bag around during a party or an evening out.

Like the look of the classic clutch? PPB has another take with their Cross Town, also in a glazed fabric. I love the embroidered details on these bags, it adds a real charm.

The Sashay Satchel is my favourite bag out of the entire Original Collection. The design of the Sashay is completely different from Petunia Picklebottom’s traditional boxy style diaper bag. The body is much slimmer and the overall design offers a real modern look. You can easily switch this up from a satchel to a backpack and from diaper bag to handbag. The new prints for fall include Blissful Buttercup, Indelible Iris, Moonlit Moments, Positively Plaid, Rambling Rose and Tranquil Tulips.

WIN IT: Love the Sashay Satchel as much as we do? Here is your chance to win one! Petunia Picklebottom is offering one of our readers a chance to win a PPB Sashay in any of the 6 colours mentioned above.

TO ENTER: Head over to our Facebook page and let us know which Petunia Picklebottom design you like best.

*EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the Twitter link at the top of this post
• ‘Like’  Petunia Picklebottom on Facebook
• Subscribe to our Feed.

*Be sure to leave comments below informing us of your extra entries.

This giveaway ends Wednesday November 23th at 11:59 p.m. A winner will then be picked at random and announced on our Facebook page.

Are any of our readers in the Chicago area or surrounding vicinity? If so you are definitely going to want to check out this incredibly fun family event!

Chicago Toy & Game Fair 2011 the largest public toy and game fair in the U.S., will take place on November 19th & 20th. During the event, adults and children will be able to preview, play and purchase the hottest toys and games of the season, meet some of America’s famous toy inventors and take part in fun family events such as a Star Wars Breakfast, inventor challenges, meet, greet and play with giant-sized interactive toys & games, live stage entertainment, free tournaments, contests and more!!

Held at the Chicago’s Navy Pier, the fair is a great way to kick off your holiday shopping! This is also a great opportunity to discover Chicago and all the family-friendly activities and fun that the city has to offer including the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade, which will take place on Saturday November 19th.

Admission for the event runs at $10 per adult, $5 per child and is free for ages 3 & under, but….. we have 3 full family passes to giveaway over the next 3 weeks. Keep your eye out for our Facebook updates on how to win!

I try to purchase fair trade products as often as possible and now thanks to Frances Carrington the designer and founder of Eternal Creation, I can make a difference while dressing my little ones as well as myself  in beautiful, quality clothing.

The background behind this company is fascinating! When Frances founded Eternal Creations in 1999, she hired 3 tailors in association with the Gu Chu Sum movement of Tibet. Fast forward to 2005 – six years later- Eternal Creation opened the Himalaya Tailoring Centre in lower Sharamsala which is now one of the largest private employers in the area.

The centre is located in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, home to the Dalai Lama and the political and spiritual capital for Tibetan refugees. The beauty of the Himalaya Tailoring Centre is the they continuously strive to produce the highest quality garments while providing good working conditions an fair pay, thus improving the lives of Tibetan refugees and local Indians and promoting friendship between the two communities.

A couple of months ago I received their stunning Wool Pea Coat for my daughter and  was immediately impressed with the quality workmanship. I’m so pleased to announce that the quality of this piece rivals some of the big boutique brands that I’ve had the pleasure of trying!

Lined with a beautiful floral print, the wool coat is thick, warm and covered in embroidered covered buttons and contrast lining. The attached hood keeps your little one warm and is deep enough to cover their head. If you are looking for that ‘perfect wool coat’ this fall, this is it!

Eternal Creation sells a very large array of various fashions for babies from new-born to 36 months, kids from 2-10 and even women’s and mens apparel. Their  Fall Collection is currently on sale as they make way for the fresh Spring fashions. Go ahead, take a look at what they have to offer. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed .

WIN IT!: Eternal Creation is offering our readers the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to use towards any purchase on their site!

TO ENTER: Head over to our Facebook page and tell us if you purchase Fair Trade products and why you would like to win this gift certificate.

*EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the Twitter link at the top of this post

*Be sure to leave comments below informing us of your extra entries.

This giveaway ends Wednesday November 9th at 11:59 p.m. A winner will then be picked at random and announced on our Facebook page.

Although I hate to think of it, winter is just around the corner which means its just about time to pull out our winter boots. We are all set when it comes to coats for the girls and thanks to JJ Cole, I now have a warm solution for my newborn.

Keeping a baby warm is a bit of a challenge during the colder months because it’s hard to find a coat that fits right and isn’t too bulky. Car seat covers are great but often don’t provide the warmth needed when transferring your baby from house to vehicle. As a big fan of JJ Cole’s BundleMe, I was excited to try out their Car Seat Cover.

This product is quite a bit different from the BundleMe and in my opinion it is more ‘fitted’. I was worried the slimmer design would mean less warmth for my son, but I was wrong. This cover is toasty warm!

Made from a quilted weather-resistant nylon and lined with soft fleece, this blanket-styled cover is warm enough to replace a bulky winter jacket. The elasticized outer band slips over infant car seats as well as standard strollers and the top can be unzipped for temperature control.

I love the design of this cover and for infants I definitely prefer it over the BundleMe. At $29.99 the price point is right and somewhat cheaper than the winter coat that I was looking at ($60 I kid you not).

WIN IT!

JJ Cole is offering one of our readers the chance to win one of their Car Seat Covers !(your choice of Pink, Graphite or Khaki.

TO ENTER:

Visit JJ Cole’s site and tell us which color you would like to win.

*EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the Twitter link at the top of this post
• ‘Like’ JJ Cole on Facebook
• ‘Like’ Child Mode on Facebook

*Be sure to leave comments below informing us of your extra entries.

This giveaway ends Tuesday October 18th at 11:59 p.m. A winner will then be picked at random and announced on our Facebook page.